What was special about Germany? Nothing. No superstars, no reliance on individual players.

And that's why they were so good. Everything was simple, no long balls, playing short and simple and keeping the ball. Playing as a team.

Awesome

"No superstars"

Neuer
Hummels
Lahm
Schweinsteiger
Kroos
Muller
Gotze

All superstars

There is no great master "plan". All countries plan - only one can be successful.

The German footballers play with each other week in week out in their domestic league and know each others game inside out. The English play with a bunch of foreigners every week, are not encouraged to play in friendlies and meet up with relative strangers for international games.

Pretty much the same for Spain during their domination - nearly all players coming from 2 league clubs.

As lubo has already suggested, no superstars is a ridiculous comment Germany have 6 or 7 world class players in the first 11

You could put forward arguments for Boateng, Khedira and Klose all being near there at their best

Just like Leeds under Ken Bates, then

Argentina had the chances to win actually, could not take them.

The Germans - extremely good individuals, very fit, playing to a clear and simple plan, playing as a team ..... can I allow myself to fantasise we are trying to create the same?

Another good article from Canada:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/world-cup/fans-reduced-to-extras-in-fifas-lucrative-reality-show/article19577586/?utm_source=Shared+Article+Sent+to+User&utm_medium=E-mail:+Newsletters+/+E-Blasts+/+etc.&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

Any plan would be a bonus after what we've been put through....!

If only the English FA would wake up and
realize what Germany has done and how they
went about it.
------
The English FA did have a plan, they just did not implement it, Germany took the English plans and implemented them themselves some years back.

No superstars my derriere!
This team of 'ordinary' players managed a pass completion rate of 82% against Argentina. If you want to understand what that means, watch your average Premier League game where the average is in the 60's.
The close ball control and distribution shown by these footballers is hugely impressive and is the result of years of dedication to one task, namely, winning the World Cup.
People talk about the lesson for English football, but I would be happy if Leeds can take this message to heart. After all, if we are in possession, the opposition can't score (unless you happen to be Gary Sprake).

Depends what you class as a superstar.

Is it someone who would demand a fee of £50-80 million? Do the Germans have any?

Maybe prima donnas is a better comparison - and I don't see any in the German team.

I'd say the Germans have multiple players that would fit in the 50-80 million bracket

The German's are pretty much a team of super stars plus the bench too, they've dominated this world cup.

Just think...they could bring the likes of Gotze and Mertesacker off the bench

I wonder if it would be possible for most of the football countries to get together and set up a new alternative to FIFA. One without the same level of corruption. Each country to have one elected representative. The main thing is it wouldn't have to be motivated by greed.
Maybe a bit pie in the sky but I think it just needs a few influential footballers to get their heads together.

I think the use of my word "superstars" may have been misleading.

By that I meant that they don't have a reliance on any single player who is perceived as their talisman - eg Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar etc.

Every one are technically brilliant players - I agree wholeheartedly - but they relied wholly on teamwork and simplicity was my main point without relying on any individual. If there was a weak point I would possibly highlight Ozil, but that stretches the term weak a little.

Sorry for any confusion.

As for individuals who cost the earth - Gotze who scored the winner was sold between two german teams last year for more than £30m.

Jonty - what do you consider the English FA plan to be? I'm not trying to be provocative, but just wanted to know your view.

I'm heavily involved in grass-roots junior football these days and have seen the changes implemented recently. However, I don't think that's where the problems with the national team lie.

Warwick, Wilko proposed that the national coach was groomed by serving an apprenticeship with incumbent manager, who is responsible for development of players and national youth sides and planning for a national football centre.

Klinsmann is credited with introducing nutrition,
Psychology, and yoga to their way of working.
He's also the bloke who placed faith in the youth.

Their model starts with going out and finding 9 and 10 year olds who are gifted regardless of size and body type. Which is something Spain does ( and Hoddle has
Championed). Then train up thousands of coaches of a high level to then train those kids.

They also broadened their ethnic horizons.
Blue eyed blonde tanks gave way to cultural diversity
Embracing the new Germany and it's multi-cultural
Society. Which in my mind was key.

Wilko may have inspired the Germans? Not sure.
One thing's for sure, the Germans believed in what they were doing and did it regardless of any dissenting voices.

If you read about the plan, much of it couldn't work in England without massive overhaul. Apply the model to Leeds and it would be a no go. For one, the DFB
Does not allow foreign ownership.

The result: great football, great players, and THE trophy.

Yes - fully agree. Low was appointed as assistant to Klinsmann who then took over, and there's another guy (Flick?) who will no doubt take over when Low stands down.

They had a national B team too, but I can't imagine the premier league teams would allow players to be released for that. The balance of power and relative importance between the national team and premier league is where it's all wrong in my view.

Warwick think there's loads wrong, money and premier haven't proven to be good for national game and development of quality english players

How about the teams that didn't have 10 year plans-Costa Rica-Columbia-Chile-Mexcico etc etc,how do we explain Englands performance relative to these countrys? Gonna' take more than 10 years- I predict we will see LUFC win the premiership before England win World Cup. MOT

Sidbutters, what makes you think those countries don't have plans to be successful?

Agree with your last bit. I cannot see England winning anything in my lifetime.

Pretty sad when there is such little hope for our national side.

Sid, I know that both Costa Rica and Chile in particular did adopted a restructuring, inspired by Germany. Chile's was undertaken by an Argentinian followed by the current coach, also Argentinian. Both set about scouring their country for kids with talent/promise and
Then allowed coaches (trained coaches) to implement a system played at all levels through to senior team.

Haven.t we been transforming the England setup for god knows how long?